Jaclyn Linetsky

Jaclyn Michelle Linetsky (January 8, 1986 – September 8, 2003 ) was a Canadian actress who played the title character on Caillou and Megan O'Connor on 15/Love.

Early life
Jaclyn Michelle Linetsky was born on January 8, 1986, at the Jewish General Hospital to Jewish parents, Terry (née Weiner) and Larry Linetsky. She had two older siblings, Kelly and Derek. Linetsky was raised in Dollard-des-Ormeaux, then moved to Hampstead, a suburb in Montreal, Quebec. She graduated from St. George's School of Montreal in 2003 where she made a speech at the graduation ceremony.

Career
Linetsky began acting at age eight, performing in theatre productions. Her first major gig was in a milk radio advertisement at age 10.

Linetsky provided the voice of the title character in the animated series Caillou from 2000 until her death in 2003. She also provided the voices for Bitzi in the animated series Daft Planet (2002); Lori Mackney in the second season of What's with Andy? (2003–2004) replacing US voice actress Colleen O'Shaughnessey; Kit on Kit & Kaboodle. Shei-Hu, his cousin Shei-He, and a large group of other mice as well as additional voices on Sagwa, the Chinese Siamese Cat; Yukari on Tommy & Oscar; Brenda on Rotten Ralph and Meg in Mega Babies.

Other roles in voice acting included, The Kids from Room 402, Wunschpunsch, The Country Mouse and the City Mouse Adventures, Simon in the Land of Chalk Drawings, Jim Button and video games Alex Builds His Farm and Evolution Worlds.

In 2003, Linetsky was cast in the tennis-circuit-themed dramatic series 15/Love on YTV. Her character, Megan O'Connor, was mutually falling in love with co-star Vadim Schneider's character, Sebastien Dubé.

Death
On September 8, 2003, Linetsky and Vadim Schneider were on their way to the set of 15/Love in Saint-Césaire, Quebec, in a Dodge Caravan. For unknown reasons, the Dodge Caravan went off its original trajectory around 12:15 P.M. to go through the middle band of the highway and found itself in the wrong direction on Highway 10 West. The van then swerved into oncoming traffic, crossed the median, and struck a 20-foot semi-truck head on, causing the vehicle to burst into flames. Both were knocked unconscious by the impact.

Schnieder died instantly on impact while Linetsky went into cardiac arrest and died hours later from the combined effects of physical trauma, severe injuries and burns. They were both 17 years old.

On the day of Schneider’s and Linetsky's deaths, filming for 15/Love was cancelled, and filming went on a two week hiatus citing a desire to speak with their families.

On September 10, 2003, a funeral was held for Linetsky, with over 1,500 mourners in attendance. She was then buried in Kehal Israel Memorial Park in Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Quebec.

Linetsky was replaced by Annie Bovaird as the voice of Caillou and her character was written to have died off-screen in 15/Love.

In a statement, Stuart Snyder, President and CEO of Cinar Corporation, wrote:

"'Jaclyn's voice enchanted thousands of children and viewers and she brought her own special personality and character to Caillou. She was a very talented performer and will be deeply missed by us all. On behalf of everyone at CINAR, I want to express our most sincere and heartfelt sympathies to Jaclyn's family.'"

Tributes
The episode of What's with Andy? entitled "Nurse Jen" was dedicated to her memory, as was the 15/Love episode entitled "Curveballs P.1" and the Caillou film Caillou's Holiday Movie. The very last episode of 15/Love was also dedicated to her memory. In 2009, St. George's School of Montreal, Linetsky's alma mater, renamed their performing arts program "The Jaclyn Linetsky Performing Arts Program" in her honour.